….. To strengthen health security, improving access to lifesaving care, and addressing persistent challenges such as malaria, maternal mortality, and workforce shortages
Brazzaville/Lusaka, — Health ministers from 47 African countries will convene in Lusaka, Zambia, from August 25 to 27 for the 75th Session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa, the region’s highest decision-making body on health.
The annual meeting, taking place at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, will bring together over 500 delegates, including WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Mohamed Janabi, senior government officials, development partners, civil society organizations, and UN agencies.
This year’s session is expected to chart an ambitious health agenda for the continent, focusing on strengthening health security, improving access to lifesaving care, and addressing persistent challenges such as malaria, maternal mortality, and workforce shortages.
Among the key issues on the agenda are:
Oral health integration into primary care: A roadmap to ensure 50% of Africa’s population has access to essential oral health services by 2030.
Safe blood access: A framework to modernize blood supply systems and close a 50% shortfall in blood needs across the region.
Rehabilitation strategy (2025–2035): Targets to integrate rehabilitation services into 60% of primary health facilities.
Maternal, child and adolescent health: A new plan to transform health systems to reduce Africa’s 70% share of global maternal deaths.
Malaria response: Strengthening strategies to reverse stalled progress toward 2030 elimination targets.
Health workforce crisis: Addressing severe shortages, with only 1.55 health workers per 1,000 people in the region.
Health security and emergency preparedness: Scaling up early detection, crisis response and resilient systems following 251 public health events in 2024.
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The event will open with remarks from Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, Dr. Ghebreyesus, and Dr. Janabi, and will feature live broadcasts in English, French, and Portuguese. Journalists are invited to attend all open sessions both in-person and online.
Full programme details and live-stream links are available at WHO AFRO.
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